Allegan County commissioners vote for pay raise

Friday

Allegan County commissioners recently approved pay raises for themselves and other elected county officials effective Jan. 1.

In a 6-5 vote, 2 percent raises were approved for county prosecutor, sheriff, drain commissioner, treasurer, clerk-register and county commissioners.

Allegan County commissioners recently approved pay raises for themselves and other elected county officials effective Jan. 1.

In a 6-5 vote, 2 percent raises were approved for county prosecutor, sheriff, drain commissioner, treasurer, clerk-register and county commissioners.

“It amounts to about $197 a year,” said District 1 Commissioner Terry Burns of Saugatuck, who represents Laketown and Saugatuck townships, Saugatuck and Douglas.

Burns voted for the raises, but said he didn’t realize he was voting for an increase in commissioners’ pay as well as full-time staff.

“It was not a good idea for this time, with all the layoffs,” even though the increase — meant to cover cost of living expenses — is the first Burns has seen during his two-year tenure as commissioner, he said.

Board Chairman and District 2 Commissioner Steve McNeal of Fillmore Township, who represents the Allegan County portion of Holland and Fillmore Township, said he voted against the increases because elected officials should serve their terms under the salary at which they were elected.

“I don’t believe in automatic or voted increases after someone takes office — whatever we accept for our salary ought to be for the full term,” he said.

“Pay-increase votes ought to be done before the election, so the people can see what we’re doing,” McNeal added.

District 8 Commissioner Tom Jessup of South Haven, who represents Ganges, Casco and Lee townships, said he voted against the increase for commissioners because he felt they deserved an even higher increase, though the increase for full-time staff was too high.

“The county board of commissioners is underpaid. We make $5 or $6 an hour. I think that’s pretty low for what we’re entrusted to do for the county,” Jessup said.

County Clerk/Register of Deeds Joyce Watts said she felt the raises were justified.

“Especially when you compare us to neighboring counties,” she said.

“I’m grateful that they found the money to pay anything. Anyone who has a job should be very grateful they have one,” Watts added.

McNeal will receive $11,374 while the other 10 commissioners will each get $9,810.

Commissioner pay for individual meetings — $45 for a half-day and $90 for a full day — remains unchanged from last year. Commissioners’ mileage reimbursement is expected to go down because it’s based on gas prices, Burns said.

Commissioners voting against the raises were McNeal, Jessup, Max Thiele of Allegan, Dean Kapenga of Hamilton and Fritz Spreitzer of Allegan. Voting for the increases were Burns, VanEck, Mark DeYoung of Dorr, Don Black of Shelbyville, Jon Campbell of Otsego and Larry Jones of Plainwell.

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